System for treating yarn or the like



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 12,1937. P. JENNY Er Al.

SYSTEM FOR TREATING YARN OR THE LIKE 'Filed Feb. 1e, 1954 IIIIIIIIIL f rlfuL NSN@ 0a. 12, 1937.- P. JENNY ETAL 2,095,550

l VSYSTEM lFOR TREATING YARN OR THE L`IKE v Filled Feb. 16, 1934 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvl-:NToRs Peter Jenn BY Georg llaa/ft m, M )fli4l ATTORNEYS Oct. l2, w37. P. JENNY Er Al.

SYSTEM 'FOR TREATING YARN OR THE LIKEv 5 sheets-sheet s l -Filed Feb. 16, 1934 Oct, l2, 1937., P. JENNY 'ET Al.

SYSTEM FOR TREATING YARN OR THE LKE Filed Fb. 1e, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 4 .my .caf www M mJH www ,m une PGM P. JENNY ET AL 5 sheets-sheet 5 SYSTEM FOR TREATING YARN OR'THE LIKE Oct. 12, 1937.

Filed Feb. 16, 1934 INVENToRs PeterJmn/y ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES SYSTEM Fon TREATING YARN R THE LIKE Peter Jenny and Georg Haupt, Wattwil, Switzerland, assignors to. Heberlein Patent Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 16, 1934, Serial No. 711,472

3 Claims.

Our invention relates to a machine for impregnating thread-like or strand-like material such as yarn with a reagent or other treating material. In accordance with the invention, a plurality A of threads or strands in spaced side-by-side relation are conveyed or passed through an impregnating bath and subsequently wiped or treated for the removal of impregnating material without recourse to undesired squeezing of the threads which would deform them.

Various other advantages, characteristics and features of ourinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

'I'he apparatus herein described and claimed may be employed for practicing the process claimed in copending application Serial No. '111,-

471, filed February 16, 1934.

For an understanding of our invention and for 2o an illustration of one of the preferred forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of a machine constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section and partly broken away, of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the complete machine;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of a part of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 6; l v

Fig. 6 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a part of the machine;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged elevational view of a part ofthe mechanism shown in Figs. l and 3;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view, partly ln 40 plan, and is taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 'Z look-` ing in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view, partly in elevation and is-taken on the line 9 -9 of Fig. 'I looking in the direction of the arrows and with some of the parts in different positions.

Referring to the drawings, I represents a suitable support upon which are mounted a plurality of bobbins 2 disposed in transverse rows as shown 50 in Fig. 2. As shown, a thread T or the like extends verticallyfrom each of said bobbins 2. A pair of spaced, parallel members 3 are supported i suitable manner at the respective opposite sides of the group of bobbins 2, and these members 3 55 carry a plurality of spaced bars 4 of rust-proof steel or the like, each bar 4 being disposed directly above a row of the bobbins 2 as shown in Fig. 2.

In accordance with the invention, the bars 4 are adapted to support and maintain the threads T in spaced, side-by-side or substantially paral- 5 lel relation as they pass longitudinally of the machine. To this end, the arrangement may be such as illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the longitudinal rows of upstanding bobbins 2 are shown as disposed parallel With respect to each other and 10 angularly related with respect to the bars 4. The latter are provided with a plurality of spaced, peripheral grooves 4a and, in each instance, there is a groove 4a directly above one of the bobbins 2. Thus, a groove 4a isdisposed directly above the 15 bobbin 2a, Fig. 2, the thread T of said last named bobbin riding in a part of this groove. 'I'his last named thread T extends from, left to right, Fig. 2, substantially at right angles with respect to -the bars 4 and rides in grooves formed in the respec- 20 tive bars. The guiding arrangement for the other threads is similar to that described and accordingly, as will be obvious, allof said threads pass through the respective grooves 4a in the bar 4 at the right, Fig. 2, in spaced, substantially 25 parallel relation. Beyond the bar last named, the threads 'I' pass, respectively, through spaced eyelets 5a of a suitably supported member 5 and then over a driven roller 6 mounted in bearing brackets 1 supported 30 by the respective side frame members B of the machine, said frame members 8 being supported by the uprights or braces 9. Beyond the roller 6, the threads T pass downwardly and then upwardly through the vat I0. 35 Disposed adjacent the bottom of said vat III and around which the threads T` pass is a bar II of glass, or equivalent, provided with spaced, peripheral grooves Ila for receiving the respective threads T and maintaining them in substantially 40 the same parallel relation as described above in connection with the bars 4 and eyelets 5a.

, In accordance with the invention and as shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, the bar II is supported by rods' I2, I2a which extend upwardly and then lat- 45\ erally for connection to the respective sockets I3. Depending from said sockets I3, respectively. are rods I4, I4a having lugs I4b projecting from the lower ends thereof. Extending from the respective sockets I3 are'rods Iii,` I5a which terminate 50 in collars pinned to a shaft I6 supported in brackets I'I carried by the machine framework, the shaft I6 having an actuating handle I8 at one end thereof. v

Suitably supported as, for example, by mempair oi' angle irons 28. Thus, at opposite sides bers Ila upstanding from the brackets I1 are. angle members I9, 18a each having a vertical section formed, adjacent one end, with a pair of pockets I9b and, adjacent its other end, with a pair of pockets I8c. As shown in Fig. 2, a pair of parallel rods 20 are resting in the respective pockets I9b. These rods 28, adjacent their ends, support upstanding plate sections 2|, Zia each of which has a hook section 2lb utilizable as hereinafter described. The rods 20 form the main support for a trough 22 which extends transversely of the machine as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 and which is open at its ends.

After leaving the vat i8, the threads T pass upwardly over a driven roller 23, the actuating shaft for which is mounted in brackets 24 upstanding from the respective frame members 8.

Secured to each of the frame members 8 midway between the ends thereof are pairs of plates 25, each of which supports a standard formed by a of the machine, there are upstanding standards and, from each, a suitably supported bracket 21 projects in a lateral direction.

Each bracket 21 is slotted as indicated at 21a and these slots receive the opposite, respective ends of a rod 28. Each end of said rod 28 carries a nut 29 whereby the rod may be clamped in a desired adjusted position along the bracket 21. 'I'he rod 28 carries an inclined plate 30 provided at the end thereof with a series of spaced notches the same in number as the threads T and through which said threads are adapted to pass respectively. The rod 28 also carries a pair of spaced plates 3|, 31a which, in turn,` support a pair of rods 32 utilizable for supporting a trough 33 wlich has a discharge conduit 34 leading into the va Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, each set of the upstanding angle irons 28 is shown as supporting a block 35. The blocks 35 are vertically adjustable and maintainable in adjustable positions in any suitable manner. To this end, each set of angle irons 28 may be provided with transverse Passages 38 with which similar passages in the blocks 35 may be alined respectively. Thus, as shown in Fig. '1, the block passages are in alinement with a set of the passages 38 at the same level, and in these alined passages, the respective prong members 31 are disposed whereby the blocks 35 are maintained in desired adjusted positions. Obviously, the members 31 may'be removed and the blocks 35 moved downwardly until the passages therethrough aline with the respective lower passages 38 whereupon said members 31 may be reinserted to positively retain the blocks 35 in their lower positions.

A shaft 38 is rotatably mounted in the blocks 35 and this shaft carries a roller 38 with which the threads T coact in the manner hereinafter described.

Suitably secured, as by bolts 48, to the blocks 35 are the respective plates 4I which carry a transverse rod 42, Fig. 9. Oscillatable on the rod 42 is a member 43 which comprises a wiper member 44 coactable with the roller 38. 'I'he member 43 and its wiper member 44 are suitably biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 9, as by the eccentrically disposed weights 45 and, accordingly, the wiper member 44 is maintained in contact with the roller 38. A pair of rods 48 extend between and aresupported by the plates 4l, these rods 48 carrying a trough 41 which is disposed beneath the wiper member 44. A discharge conduit 48 leads from the trough 41 and opens into the trough 33.

'I'he plates 4I also carry an oscillatable shaft 49 to which a pair of spaced, curved arms 50, 50 are suitably secured. These arms, near their ends, carry a pair of spaced bars 5I and 52 formed from copper, or equivalent, which are engaged by the threads T in the manner hereinafter described. The shaft 48 also carries a pair of spaced arms 53, 53 to each of which a weight 54 is secured. As clearly appears from a consideration of Fig. 1, the arms 58 are so curved that, in one position thereof, they closely embrace a part of the shaft 38 while the curved end sections thereof lie beneath said shaft. 'I'he relation is such that the arms 50 remain in this position without application of a restraining force thereto, but are movable from said position in response to downward movement imparted to the weights 54. Movement of the character last noted causes the parts to assume the relation shown in Fig. 9 wherein the bars 5I and 52 are disposed above the roller 39. As will be obvious, the weights 54 automatically cause the various parts to remain in the position of Fig. 9 without application of a restraining force other than the stop effect of one of the rods 48 upon the arms 53.

Suitably supported by the framework of the machine is a tank or vat 55. Adjacent the bottom\ of said tank 55, a pair of spaced rollers 58 and 51 are supported for free rotatable movement. The threads T pass downwardly into the tank 55, partly around and beneath the rollers 56, 51, then upwardly and over a roller 58 supported by brackets carried by the respective frame members 8.

The tank 55 may be drained by a pipe 59 controlled by a valve 88. Connected to the pipe 59 is a pipe 8| formed with an inverted U-bend vertically disposed at one side of said tank 55, the U-bend, at the top thereof, being formed with a vent opening 8Ia. With the valve 88 closed,

A it will be obvious'that the liquid level in the tank 55 remains as indicated in Fig. 1, that said tank drains through the pipe 6| and that the latter, by reason of its U-section, prevents said tank 55 from overflowing.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, one or more spray pipes 82 and 83 may be associated with the tank 55 the former directing a liquid spray toward the threads T as they enter said tank,-

and the latter directing a spray toward the threads as they leave the tank. As shown in Fig. 2, the pipes 82 and 83 may bev provided with intake' sections leading to any suitable source of supply,-not shown.

Referring now to Fig. 6, a plurality of spaced frame members 84, 85, and 68 are shown as maintained in vertical upright relation by tie members 81. A driven shaft 88 is journalled in the frame members 84, 85, and this shaft carries a fixed pulley 88 and a loose pulley 18, the fixed pulley being driven by a. belt 1I operated by any suitable source of power, not shown, and the belt being shiftable to the loose pulley by a belt shifter 12 pivoted on a part of the frame member 84 and operated by a handle section 12a, Fig. 3.

' `'Ihe frame members 84 and 85 have frame' extensions 84a, 85a secured respectively thereto' and these frame extensions form bearings for a shaft 13 which carriesA a conical pulley 14. A belt 15 engages the pulley 14 and this belt leads to a second conical pulley 18 which is mounted on the aforesaid shaft 88, Fig. 6.

Rotatably mounted in the frame extension 84a 75 i 2,095,550 and in the adjacent frame member 8 is a rod 1 1 having a sleeve 18 threaded thereto. The sleeve 18 carries a pair of spaced prong members 19 which extend downwardly at opposite sides, respectively, of the belt 15, Figs. 2y and 3.` The rod 11 carries an operating hand wheel 88 and a sprocket wheel 8|.V The latterhas an endless chain 82 meshing therewith, said chain leading to and meshing with a second sprocket 83 mounted on a suitably journalled stub shaft 84 which has threaded thereto a sleeve corresponding with the hereinbefore described sleeve 18. This sleeve of the shaft 84 carries a pair of spaced prong members 85 which 'extend upwardly at opposite sides, respectively, of the belt 15.

The pulleys 14 and 16 are disposed in parallel relation and face in opposite directions. Accordingly, the hand wheel 88 may be rotated to move the sleeve 18 in one direction or the other transversely of the shaft 11 whereby, by the prong members 19, the belt 15 is moved transversely with respect to the pulley 14. At the same time, due to the operation of the chain 82, said belt 15, by the prong members 85, is moved in the same direction transversely of the pulley 16. In this manner, the rotative speed of the pulley 14, under the driving influence vof the pulley 16, mayy be varied in a desired manner.

The aforesaid shaft 13 carries a sprocket wheel 86 which serves as a driving member for an endless chain 81. 'Ihis chain passes over and partly around a sprocket wheel 88 carried by the shaft of the roller 58, beneath and partly around sprocket wheels 89 and 90 carried, re-

spectively, by the shafts of the rollers 51 and 56, over and partly around an idler roll 9| carried at the top of one of the uprights 26, partly around a sprocket wheel 92 carried by and rotatable with the shaft 38, partly around an idler sprocket wheel 93 rotatable on a stub shaft 94 carried by the aforesaid upright 26, Fig. 7, partly around lin the position shown in Fig. 6.

an idler sprocket wheel 95 rotatable on a stub shaft 96 supported by one pair of the plates 25, partly around a sprocket wheel 81 carried by the shaft of the roller 23, partly around a sprocket wheel 98 carried by the shaft of the aforesaid roller 8, and partlyaround asprocket Wheel 99 rotatable on a stub shaft |88 carried by one of the members 9, said chain 81 passing from theY sprocket wheel 89 to the aforesaid sprocket wheel 86.

The aforesaid frame members 85 and 86 are adapted to support a plurality of reels R, Figs. 3 and 6. In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, each. of these reels comprises a shaft |8| having a pair of spaced collars |82 secured thereto in suitable manner. Each collar |82 has a plurality of sets of radially extending brackets |83 and each bracket carries a pivoted arm |84. As clearly appears, each arm |88 of a collar |83 is in alinement; longitudinally 'of the shaft |8I, with an arm |88 of the -other collar |88 and each pair of thefarms |88 thus longitudinally alined carries a bar |85. Slidable on each 'shaft |8| is a collar |88, Fig. 6, to which, radially thereof, a plurality of links |81 are-pivoted, these links also being pivotally connected to the outer ends of the respective arms |84 of the adjacent collar |82. As shown, a set yscrew |88 may be utilized for securing any collar` |88 l Under 'such circumstances, the various arms |84 are maintained in vertical upright position and the bars nos are held in their fully extended positions with respect to the adjacent shaft |8l.

As shown in Fig. 6, three of the reels R are provided, these reels being mounted in supery posed vertical relation. The shafts I8| for the respective lower, intermediate and upper reels R together with the operating shafts therefor are mounted in sets of bearing brackets |09 carried, respectively, by the frame members 64, 65, and 66. A shaft alined with and to which the lower shaft |8| is detachably connected carries a pinion ||`which meshes with and isv driven by a pinion carried by the hereinbefore described driven shaft 68. The pinion also. operates another pinion ||2 which, by a pinion ||8, op-

erates a pinion I I4 carried by a shaft'alined with and with which the shaft |8| of the intermediate reel R is detachably associated; The last named pinion drives a pair of meshing pinions and H6, the latter operating a pinion |I1 carried by a shaft alined'with and with which the shaft |8| of the upper reel R is detachably connected. As clearly appears from a consideration f Figs. 3 and 6, rotation of the driving pinion ina clockwise direction, Fig. 3, causes, by the described pinion operating arrangement, similar clockwise movement of the lower and intermediate reels R, andcounter-clockwiseA spaced eyelets |23 upstanding therefrom. The

sleeves |22 are connected together by a frame 22a and this frame is. suitably connected, as at |24b, to a lever |24 mounted for oscillatory movement on a suitably supported pivot |25. The lever |24 has a laterally projecting cam follower |26 which coacts with the groove of a cam` |21 mounted Jon the shaft |28I of the aforesaid pinion ||8.

It follows, therefore, that rotation of the pinion ||3 imparts similar rotative movement to the cam |21 whereby oscillatory movement is imparted to the lever-|28. As a result, the frame |23 and the thereto-connected sleeves |22 are reciprocated in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the reels R.

The operation is as follows:

With the belt 1| on the pulley 69, operation of said belt eects rotation of the shaft 68. Rota.-

tion of the 'shaft last named causes rotative movement to be imparted to the shaft 18 by the endless belt 15. The shaft 13 carries the sprocket wheel 86 with which meshes the hereinbefore described endless chain 81 which, when operated by the sprocket wheel 86, effects rotation of the various hereinbefore described rollers 88, 81, 88, ete.. under the control of the respective Sprocket wheels 88, 88, 88, etc.

Rotation of the shaft 88 also eiects slow rota-` tion of the reels R and the cam |21 under the control of the pinion in the manner hereinbefore described. As stated, the pinion is included in the driving connection of the intermediate reel R and this pinion operates the cam |21 whereby reciprocatory movement is imparted to the sleeves |22. As hereinbefore described, all of the threads T pass from the rinsing tank 55 over the roller 88. In accordance with the form of the invention described herein, the total numberof threads T leaving the roller 88 are allotted to the various reels R in substantially equal proportions. That is, when three reels R are provided, Yabgiut onethird of the threads T pass to each of said reels. Accordingly, approximately one-third of the threads T pass, respectively, through the upper eyelets |23, Fig. 6, and are wound upon the upper reel R. Another one-third of the threads T pass, respectively, through the intermediate eyelets |23 and are wound upon the intermediate-reel R. The remaining one-third of the threads T pass ythrough the lower eyelets |23 and are wound upon the lower reel R.

Under normal operating conditions, the threads T, while maintained in non-contacting relation, pass over the roller 6, downwardly through the treating material in the vat I3, partly around the bar II, upwardly through the vat I0, over the roller 23, through the respective notches of the plate 30, over the roller 39, downwardly into the vat 55 which contains a suitable rinsing liquid, partly around the rollers 56 and 51 in said vat 55, upwardly from the vat, and then over the roller 53. From 'said roller 58, the threads T pass to the various reels R in` about the proportion for each reel as hereinbefore described.

A single source of power, i. e., that applied to the shaft 68 is utilized for rotating the reels and the various rollers. With these parts properly synchronized, it will be obvious that any section of a yarn thread T passes from bobbin to reel in a uniform manner and at a substantially constant rate of speed.

After the side-by-side threads T leave the vat I0, they contact first with the roller 23 and then with the surfaces defining the notches in the plate 39. The roller 23 removes a part of the entrained liquid from the threads T and this liquid, in turn. is removed from said roller 23 by the wiper member 23a, thez.. liquid thus removed dropping back into theydt I 0. The notched plate 30 functions to guide 'the threads T laterally and the notches of said plate also serve the purpose of wiping additional quantities of theentrained liquid material from said threads T, the material thus removed passing into the trough 33 and thence-to the vat I3 by way of the discharge conduit 34. Beyond the plate 30, the threads T come into engagement with the roller 39 which serves to remove more of the entrained material from said threads. The wiper member 44 removes this liquid material from the roller 39, such material r passing into the trough 41 and eventually reaching the vat I0 by way of the conduit member 43, trough 33 and conduit member 34.

The arrangements described immediately above for removing the entrained material from the threads T constitute important features of my invention. 4In.the manner described, the entrained material of the vat III is removed to a substantial extent from the threads T without recourse to thread squeezing. It follows, therefore, that said threads T are not deformed or distorted in an undesirable manner.

Another important feaure'of the invention relates to the disclosed arrangement for removing the threads from the treating material in the vat I0 and also from the roller 33 when the machine is stopped for any length of time. To this end, the operator swings the handle I3 in the counterclockwise direction, \Fig. 3, to thereby swing the shaft I6, rods I5, I 5a, sockets I3, rods 14, I4a, rods I2, I2a and bar I I from the respective positions shown i'n Fig. 3 to those positions shown in Fig'. 4. In so doing', the lugs I4b of the respective rods I4, |4a come uinto engagement with hook sections 2 I b of the respective plates 2|, 2 Ia.

It results, therefore, that the above described swinging movement of the rods I4, I4a causes the trough 22 to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. At this time, the bars 5I and 52 may be moved to the position. shown in Fig. 9 whereby the threads are elevated above the roller 39.

Thus, with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 4, the threads T are disposed tautly between the eyelets 5a and the thread-supporting bars 5I and 52 at the upper end of the standards 26. When thus tautly positioned, the threads T are removed from the treating material in the vat I0 and, moreover, these threads clear the roller 23 and the notched plate 30.

As the trough 22 is moved from right to left to the position shown in Fig. 4, it remains under the bar II and receives the liquid material that drips therefrom. This material passes from the open ends of the trough 22 into the pans |30 which may be suitably supported, for example, just above the bars 4 as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. By virtue of the arrangement just described, drippings from the bar II are prevented from passing to the dry thread sections which as yet have not been immersed in the treating material in the vat I0.

With the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 4, they may be returned to the position of Fig. 3 by swinging the handle I3 clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 3. As a result, the bar sides in the fact that the height of the roller 39 may be varied. 'I'his is accomplished by removing the prong members 31, moving the blocks 35 either upwardly or downwardly as may be desired, and then repositioning said prong members 31 in the standards 26 and block members 35. In this manner, the time which elapses while a given thread section passes from the vat I Il to the rinsing tank 55 may be varied to prolong or shorten the treating period whereby the appearance and/or structural character of the treated threads may be controlled as desired. I t` is desirable that the machine include some such arrangement for varying the duration of the treating period and, moreover, it is preferable that this be accomplished without changing the speed of thread movement.

After the threads leave the roller 33, they pass downwardly and are subjected to an initial rinsing action by liquid sprayed from the pipe 62, when and if utilized. Thereupon the threads lpass through the liquid of the rinsing tank and,

during upward passage from\said tank, said threads may again be subjected to an indirect spraying action by liquid ejected from thepipe 63.

' As' shown in Fig. 3, it may be desirable to.

provide pipes |3I, |32, and |33 which are supported by the frame sections 35 and 66. From these pipes, liquid is sprayed toward the thread skeins as the latter are built up on the respec'- tive reels R.

` As stated above, the threads T, after leavingv the roller 63, are'separated into three groups As stated, however, these and these traverse the respective upper, intermediate and lower sets of 4eyelets 123. Since these groups of eyelets are reciprocatory, it results that the threads are wound upon the reels R in skein f/ormation. After these skeins have become suciently large, the vmachine may be stopped and, by a suitable arrangement, the reels R may be removed therefrom and then said reels may be collapsed, .after loosening of the respective set screws |08, to eiect removal of the skeins. Alternatively, the reels R with the skeins thereon, may be removed and, before said reels are collapsed, the skeins while on the reels may be further treated in a centrifuge washing apparatus, or equivalent.

As is obvious, the handle 12a may be actuated whenever it becomes desirable to shiftthe driving Joelt 1| from the driving pulley 69 to the idler pulley 10.

As the thread builds up on the reels the thickness of the thread layer increases. This increases the peripherial speed of the thread covered reels and hence the speed of thread passing to the reels.

By rotating the hand wheel 80, the belt 15 may be shifted on the conical pulleys 'M and 1B to vary the speed of the rollers driven by the endless chain- 81 with respect to the speed of the reels R. This arrangement is provided so that the tension of the thread sections between the impregnating tank 55 and the reels R may be varied in a desired manner to obviate breakage of the threads.

For the purpose of this description, it may be assumed that the threads T are of vegetable fibrous material, such as mercerized cotton, and that the treating material in the vat I is sulfuric acid. When these mercerized cotton threads are passed through the acid bath in spaced, side-byside relation as illustrated, swelling action occurs without deformation of the threads by contact with one another. Thereafter, the acid treating material is removed from the threads without recourse to a squeezing action, i. e., .by action of the roller 23, plate 30, and roller 39. The threads, after completion o`f the operation disclosed in this application, are of permanently stiff character resembling horsehair and, in addition, they possess certain marked advantages over horsehair.

Although the invention is particularly useful for the treatment of material of the character stated with sulfuric acid, it shall be understood that the invention is not to be thus limited.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a vat for a treating reagent, a vat for a rinsing liquid, means forwpassing through said vats a plurality of threads maintained in spaced side-by-side relation, a member engaged kby said threads while passing between said vats, means for adjusting the height of said member tovary the length of the thread path between said vats, and means for elevating said threads above said member.

2. In a machine of the class described, a vat for a treating reagent, a vat for a rinsing liquid, means for passing thro'ugh said vats a plurality of threads maintained in spaced side-by-side relation, a member engaged by said threads while passing between said vats, means for adjusting the height of said member to varythe length of the thread path between said vats, and means for elevating said threads above said member, said last named means comprising a plurality of spaced members manually movable into engagement with said threads.

3. In a machine of `the class described, a reel arrangement upon which threads are wound in skein formation, vats for a treating reagent and a rinsing liquid, means for passing through said vats a plurality of threads disposed in spaced side-byside relation, a source of power for operating said reel arrangement and said means, and means for varying the operative speed of said means with respect to that of said reel arrangement.

. 'PETER JENNY.

GEORG HAUPT.- 

